This is the first in what hopefully will be a series of interviews with some of the people who make the music scene in this wee city tick.

Graham Smith is one of the most established music photographers in ireland, capturing everyone from local artists Fighting With Wire and The Answer to REM and The Foo Fighters, both on stage and off.

I caught up with him in the middle of a very hectic schedule to chat about how he got into photography, the current local music scene, his plans for the future (including the “20 : 20 Vision” Group Exhibition which opens at the Oh Yeah Centre this month) and a lot of man love for Fighting With Wire…

Backstage With Graham Smith

I recall reading a quote about Devotchka a few days ago when I was looking for more details on their new album, which said that they were making the kind of albums Calexico should have been making years ago. Forever to be known as the band responsible for the music in Academy-award winning comedy Little Miss Sunshine, Devotchka have been pumping out excellent folk-infused mariachi-tinted genius for some time now, and shall evidentially be continuing to do so with their next album …

You can check out Along the Way for an early taster of their new album ‘A Mad & Faithful Telling’ due in a few weeks, and/or How It Ends from their previous album and soundtrack for ‘Sunshine. The group also play Dublin April 5th if you’re keen!

Devotchka - Along the Way

Devotchka - How It Ends

…and I still chose the free option.

Download Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV

Maybe if I get into the first 9 tracks I’ll go back and pay for the full album(s), but I like this option of trying it out first.

Nine Inch Nails - I Ghosts 2

Nine Inch Nails - I Ghosts 3

Neil Tennant apparently cried like a little girl the first time he heard The Presets, in realization that even after 20 years The Pet Shop Boys couldn’t hold a candle to this aussie electro duo.

Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes last played Ireland in 2006 supporting The Rapture at Mandela Hall. They must have made a good impression on the crowd because now they are back to play the The Stiff Kitten on St Patrick’s Day.

I plan to get my dance on, it’s not going to be pretty but I don’t care, because I Go hard, I Go Home…

The Presets - I Go Hard, I Go Home (ASCII Disko Remix)

and nothing to do with The Presets but i’m completely hooked on this tune…

PNAU - Baby (Breakbot Remix)

Andy is currently in Dublin for the Irish Blog Awards, where he is nominated for best designed blog for goodonpaper.org.

Mucho wishes him all the best tonight and hopefully he’ll bring back some silverware.

oh, and here’s Cahir from Fighting With Wire talking about their super awesome new record deal with Atlantic Records

Mucho talks To Cahir